Following the Hidden Marks report, the first ever nationwide survey of women students’ experience of harassment, stalking, violence and sexual assault, the NUS Women's Campaign has launched www.hiddenmarks.org.uk.
The Hidden Marks website is a support site for victims of violence, harassment, sexual assault and stalking. The women’s campaign has created the site because it is very difficult for students who have experienced violence to know where to turn.
The website - www.hiddenmarks.org.uk - brings together all of the national support services that there are available, and helps direct students to the service that best suits their needs. This site is the first ever website that brings together this information in one place.
We hope that this site will be a big help to victims of violence. But, in order for the site to reach the students who need it, we need your help.
We have two simple asks:
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Include information about violence against women on your SU website
Many students will go to their SU website as a first port of call, and at the moment they will not find any specific information on what to do if they have experienced violence. I’m asking you to devote a section of your SU website to publicise the Hidden Marks website and to gather information about local support services which is beyond the remit of the generic support website. Click here for a briefing on how you can do this. The briefing includes model text for you to use, and a guide on how to find your local support services.
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Publicise www.hiddenmarks.org.uk
As well as creating a section of your website, please also spend some time promoting the website in your SU. You can order wallet sized information cards and stickers for the backs of toilet doors from me to advertise the site, just drop me an email.
The Hidden Marks report revealed that 1 in 7 women students have experienced serious physical or sexual assault during their time as a student. This is an issue on your campus - now is the time to sit up and take notice.